(CNN) - Gov. Scott Walker said that fellow Wisconsinite Rep. Paul Ryan is the exception the his ideal Republican 2016 presidential candidate being from outside the Washington beltway.

Walker, a potential 2016 hopeful himself, recently told ABC that his ideal standard bearer for the GOP in the next presidential election would be an "outsider" and "former or current governor."FULL POST

(CNN) – Sen. Tim Scott is passing on throwing his support behind Lindsey Graham, his fellow South Carolina Republican senator, who faces four conservative primary challengers as he runs for re-election next year.

Instead, Scott, who was appointed to the Senate late last year, said he would focus on his own election next year.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The House Republican campaign chief is withholding judgment about whether Florida Rep. Trey Radel, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession earlier Wednesday, should remain in office. But he told reporters Radel has some explaining to do.

"He's going to need to explain what happened and then make some decisions," Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, said Wednesday leaving the House floor.FULL POST

CNN's GUT CHECK | for November 20, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

BREAKING: CONGRESSWOMAN HIT, ROBBED NEAR CAPITOL
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, was hit in the back of the head and robbed near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday night, her office said Wednesday. – Dan Merica

JUST IN … DEEDS STABBED MORE THAN 10 TIMES- Sources close to the investigation tell CNN Gus Deeds stabbed his father more than ten times just outside Creigh Deeds' home. As the state senator stumbled down the driveway bleeding, his son went back into the house and shot himself. …

Washington (CNN) - Trey Radel loves hip-hop. He is an avid user of Twitter. His real name is Henry Jude Radel III. He represents parts of the southwest Florida coast in Congress. He said he came to Congress to do "the right thing."

Washington (CNN) - U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, was hit in the back of the head and robbed near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday night, her office said Wednesday.

Meng was walking to her apartment after having dinner when, according to her office, she was hit from behind and fell to the ground. The perpetrator, her office said, then took her handbag and fled the scene on foot.FULL POST

(CNN) – Colorado's gone blue the past two presidential elections, but a new poll indicates Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey leading former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a hypothetical 2016 showdown for the state's nine electoral votes.

According to a Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday, 46% of Colorado voters say if the 2016 presidential election were held today, they'd back Christie if he were the GOP nominee, with 38% saying they support Clinton if she were the Democratic nominee. That's a change from August, when a Quinnipiac poll indicated Christie and Clinton, who are both seriously considering bids for the White House, basically tied.FULL POST